[Lesley Silvester]

So that's where I went wrong. 

[benandjerry]

So that's where I went wrong. 

Lol   Me to but I learnt the error of my bread making ways. Sort of....

The bread maker challenge:
On a 2lb loaf how many slices can you get from it? And how?
E.g I can get 14 good slices with my electric knife, 10 assorted sizes slicing free hand And 25 wafer thin if I used the meat / bread slices (which are useless for sandwiches
What about you?

Tried to load a photograph as evidence, but the image is too large and no idea how to make it smaller.

[Lesley Silvester]

So do you think 6 slices means they are too big?

[Fleecewife]

Definitely Panasonic for me too.  We've had ours for yonks and it's still going strong     Previously had a Henry (Hinari) but it got a hole in its bucket.
I still have the old recipes but I use only 1/2 teasp salt and 1 teasp sugar per XL loaf.  What does the new recipe recommend for 21 oz flour?

I tempted fate when I wrote that.  My trusty ancient Panasonic presented us with a brick yesterday morning - the motor had gone.  My new one arrived today - amazing service from Co-op.  I got the Panasonic SD-ZB 2502 BXC which has diamond non-stick - woohoo   and a stainless steel body - my last one was white.
I just put my first loaf to bake in it.........hope it turns out ok   

It does include a recipe for gluten free bread although I make normal bread with 70% wholemeal flour/30% white or grainy.

[Lesley Silvester]

It had to go at some time, FW. Glad you managed to get a replacement so quickly. How was the bread?

[Daisys Mum]

I tempted fate when I wrote that.  My trusty ancient Panasonic presented us with a brick yesterday morning - the motor had gone.  My new one arrived today - amazing service from Co-op.  I got the Panasonic SD-ZB 2502 BXC which has diamond non-stick - woohoo   and a stainless steel body - my last one was white.
I just put my first loaf to bake in it.........hope it turns out ok   

It does include a recipe for gluten free bread although I make normal bread with 70% wholemeal flour/30% white or grainy.

Mine hasn't arrived yet    But I think that's the same one, dying to get started, I suppose I could go out and buy the flour etc.

[Fleecewife]

It had to go at some time, FW. Glad you managed to get a replacement so quickly. How was the bread?

Scrumpshlicious    but incredibly tall.  Think I'll just revert to my old recipe amounts.  I can make some more tonight as we've eaten all that one (imagine a fat icon  )  The hens and pet Soays did get their little share too.

Daisy's mum - hope yours arrives soon 

[benandjerry]

Go and buy the flour, Daisy's mum    Then your ready to rock and roll.  Plus the brand new packet of butter.....

[Lesley Silvester]

Don't forget the yeast.

[Daisy]

I think I must be the only person who doesn't like bread from the breadmaker, and yes it is a Panasonic

[Herdygirl]

Well after reading the beginning of this thread I have bought a Panasonic.  I have been up since half five waiting for it to come out!  I set the timer for 8am to make sure I was up (i sometimes have a lie in til 8 on a Saturday. 
 
1 hour 27 mins to go   

[Cactus Jack]

I think I must be the only person who doesn't like bread from the breadmaker, and yes it is a Panasonic

Oh no you're not. I really don't like bread from the bread maker either. I make all mine by hand. It's good excercise and tastes so much better and is less dense.

[Fleecewife]

Usually you need to play around with the proportions in the breadmaker a bit before settling on the best results.  The amount of water has to be measured very accurately, much more so than with handmade loaves.  I made my bread by hand for very many years but initially switched to a breadmaker because my house is too cold to find somewhere good to set it to rise.
I have also played around with the proportions of flours used and the make of the flour.  My current favourite is 70% Marriages wholemeal plus 30% Wessex six seeded.  The little bit of whiteish flour helps the texture, but it doesn't need to be as much as 30%.  I often replace an ounce of the white with Einkhorn which gives a nice nutty flavour - any more and the result is too dense.
Using 1/8 teasp of Vit C powder helps too, but not for the purist I suppose.



How's the loaf Herdygirl?

[benandjerry]

Nothing beats the smell of bread baking when you wake up on a cold winter's morning.    hey herdy girl???

[Daisys Mum]

First loaf cooling now, have to say it doesn't look to impressive here's hoping it tastes ok!